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By Counterman
Worldpac announced two Hall of Famers as keynote speakers for its biannual
link hidden, please login to view. Professional football legend Terry Bradshaw and triathlete-turned-motivational speaker Siri Lindley will deliver dynamic conversations on leadership, entrepreneurship, and upskilling operations in an increasingly competitive landscape during the conference taking place Aug. 19-23, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, in National Harbor, Maryland. As the largest and most comprehensive automotive aftermarket training and vendor expo in North America, according to Worldpac,
link hidden, please login to view will feature more than 300 educational courses from top industry experts from original equipment brands and the Worldpac Training Institute. The sessions will focus on the latest and emerging trends in electric and manufacturer-specific vehicles, automotive technologies, and business management. It will also showcase exhibits from more than 250 international parts manufacturers. Terry Bradshaw will lead the discussion during the conference’s opening session Aug. 20 at 6:45 p.m. ET from the STX stage. A four-time champion and Hall of Fame quarterback who led the league in his prime, Terry will set the tone for what is expected. The broadcast analyst will bring unmatched insight, leadership perspective, and his larger-than-life personality to the stage for thousands of attendees eager to learn what it takes to succeed.
Two-time world champion and Hall of Fame triathlete Siri Lindley will keynote the STX Accelerate Women’s Lunch on Aug. 22 at 12:30 p.m. ET. Drawing from her extraordinary journey as a world champion triathlete, elite coach to Olympic competitors and cancer survivor, Siri delivers a powerful message on resilience, courage and unlocking one’s full potential. Her inspiring story and actionable insights make this a session attendees won’t want to miss, Worldpac said.
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By Counterman
Six in 10 automotive businesses expect demand for aftermarket parts and services to grow this year. That’s according to
link hidden, please login to view by the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo ( link hidden, please login to view). Open-ended commentary points to higher new vehicle prices, which are causing consumers to hang onto their existing vehicles longer, as the driving force for rising demand in the aftermarket. “The price of new cars is high, so people are purchasing, repairing and maintaining older vehicles,” wrote one respondent. “People are keeping their cars for longer periods of time,” noted another. “Price of new cars justifies repairs on older vehicles,” noted a third.
One caveat to that finding is that price sensitivity shows up in the aftermarket, too. The majority (53%) have observed more interest in lower-cost parts and services. However, customer motivation appears to be focused on value, rather than pure cost savings. Respondents said quality (34%) was the top influence of buying preference, followed by price (25%) and availability (20%).
Perhaps as a consequence, respondents said their business’s sales expectations for this year are flat, compared to sales performance the year prior. This reinforces the aftermarket’s reputation for stability no matter what’s happening with the economy.
Uncertainty is the Top Challenge
Respondents identified the top challenge as “uncertainty” (45%), which was a recurring theme throughout the findings. Many aftermarket businesses are engrossed in supply chain diversification initiatives, carrying higher inventory levels, and struggling to find skilled labor.
Among the other key findings are the following:
Customer service is the top AI initiative. About one-fifth (21%) of respondents have implemented enterprise-grade AI tools and another 20% are in the planning stages. Of those implementing enterprise AI, the top areas of AI investment are customer service (60%), inventory management (42%) and product development (36%). Supply chain diversification. 70% of respondents have completed diversifying their suppliers (6%), are in the planning stages (18%), or have plans in progress (46%). Inventories are on the rise. 38% of respondents are managing higher inventories of parts, compared to 20% who say they are managing fewer parts. Electric vehicle (EV) investments. More respondents (26%) said they will invest less in the EV segment, compared to 17% who will invest more. Another 27% said they will invest about the same as last year. Notably, the largest share of respondents (29%) remains uncertain about EV investments. Solving the Skilled Labor Shortage
Attracting skilled talent ranked second on the list of the top three challenges. Repair shops struggle with this because automotive technicians are retiring faster than the industry can replace them. The problem is compounded by the fact that demand for repair and maintenance services is rising.
When asked about the steps their business is taking to address the shortage, respondents pointed to an array of enticements. These include offering more training (30%), boosting compensation (27%) and improving benefits (22%), among other steps.
However, 25% of respondents aren’t taking any of those actions. In open-ended comments, respondents offered a variety of answers ranging from hiring retired people part-time to employing temporary help. One respondent commented [that we] “just stopped looking for help.”
It’s important to note that it’s not just repair shops that need skilled labor in the aftermarket. Respondents who work in manufacturing comprised the second largest demographic in this survey, following repair shops.
One manufacturing respondent wrote in to offer a solution, calling for “a national apprenticeship program that is deeply integrated into the manufacturing sector.” That person later added that technical institutes should synchronize their curricula with the “real-time needs of the factory floor.”
The full report is freely available for download (no registration required) on the AAPEX blog:
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By Counterman
The
link hidden, please login to view has released its 2024 American Driving Survey, which quantifies daily driving in 2024 and compares results to 2023 and 2022. Similar to 2023, the brief analyzes the age of vehicles driven and explores differences by population groups. This year, new analyses of vehicle engine type are included. Vehicle age and engine type are important components of both crash risk and environmental impact, as newer vehicles are equipped with more advanced safety features and alternative engines can reduce emissions. Key Findings Included:
94.2% of U.S. residents ages 16 and older drove at least occasionally in 2023, statistically unchanged from 2023 and 2022. In 2024, drivers made an average of 2.44 driving trips per day, spent 60.4 minutes driving and traveled 31.1 miles daily, with no statistically significant differences from 2023. Projecting these results to the national population, drivers collectively made 232 billion trips, spent 96 billion hours driving and drove 2.95 trillion miles in 2024. Some of the travel patterns reported by population groups were consistent with both previous years’ trends:
Male respondents reported more minutes, miles driven and trips taken as compared to female respondents. Drivers from the Northeast made more and longer trips, while drivers from the South spent more time driving. Other travel patterns, stabilized post-2021, have continued in 2024:
Drivers with a bachelor’s degree or higher took more trips and spent more time behind the wheel compared to other groups. White non-Hispanic drivers recorded the greatest number of trips and miles driven, while Black non-Hispanic drivers spent more time behind the wheel than other groups. Younger drivers continued using older vehicles (greater than 14 years old), whereas older, retired drivers tended to use newer cars ( less than four years old). Findings Related to Engine Type Included:
In 2024, gas-powered vehicles made up the majority of driving trips (91.0%), while hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for a smaller share (6.4% and 2.5% respectively). Respondents driving EVs recorded the longest average trip times (16.0 minutes) and distances (32.9 miles), indicating that EVs were often used for longer journeys. For more information on the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, visit
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view was honored with the Workplace Excellence Award from MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers at AAPEX 2025. The recognition highlights suppliers that show leadership, innovation and measurable progress in building a strong, sustainable workforce. Evaluation focused on three areas: strategy and leadership, innovative recruiting, and retention and engagement. “On behalf of MotoRad, I’m honored to accept this award,” said Matt Buchholz, CEO, MotoRad. “We work every day to build a place where people want to come to work, grow and serve this essential industry. This recognition belongs to our global team whose commitment to customers and to one another makes the difference.”
MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers presented the award on the AAPEX show floor in Las Vegas.
link hidden, please login to view’s submission cited a clear people strategy, new recruiting pipelines, skills development programs, frontline engagement, and data-driven retention results across regions.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view link hidden, please login to viewtomotive Parts Associates (APA) participated in the 2025 AWDA Conference and Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) with its annual cocktail party on Nov. 4. The event, held at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, gathered over 200 shareholders, TruStar members and industry partners. This invite-only gathering facilitated networking and the exchange of ideas within the automotive aftermarket industry. Attendees engaged in discussions while surrounded by wax figures of celebrities and cultural icons. The event celebrated past successes and looked forward to continued growth and collaboration.
“We received a ton of great feedback on this year’s event, many people told us it was our best one yet and that we’ll have a hard time topping it next year,” said Steve Tucker,
link hidden, please login to view. “That’s the kind of challenge we like to hear. Each year, we aim to make this event even more memorable for our members, shareholders and partners. I would like to extend my appreciation to all who attended and to the APA HQ staff, especially Jan Larson, for making this year’s event such a success.” APA said it remains dedicated to fostering connections within its network to drive shared success and future growth.
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